Journalists report being attacked by Bangladeshi MP

New
York, July 23, 2013--Authorities in Bangladesh should immediately investigate the
role of a member of parliament in a physical altercation with two journalists
on Saturday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

News accounts reported that Golam Maula Rony,
a member of the ruling Awami League, and several unnamed individuals present at
the politician's office in Dhaka allegedly beat Imtiaz Momin Sony, a reporter
for Independent TV, a private news channel, and cameraman Mohsin Mukul. The reports said that the journalists had
visited Rony's office seeking comment for a story they were covering for the
station's investigative show, "Talash," on allegations of bribery against the
politician.

Sony told journalists that the politician "became
agitated" during the interview and began to punch and kick him and
Mukul. The extent of the injuries suffered was not immediately clear. Their
camera and microphone were also damaged in the attack.

The channel filed a police complaint
against the politician.

Rony also filed a case against the journalists, accusing them of extortion and blackmail, reports said. He has denied participating in the assault but said he would provide compensation for the damaged equipment and for the journalists' medical treatment, reports said.

"In addition to a police
investigation into this attack, we also call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
government to thoroughly probe the outrageous behavior of one of its members and
take appropriate action immediately," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "The
government must send a clear message to politicians, police, or any person in
power that attacks against journalists will not be tolerated."

In
a statement by the Awami League's joint general secretary, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif,
on Sunday, the ruling party condemned the assault and hinted at the possibility
of parliamentary action against the politician, reports said. Rony has said he is considering
submitting his resignation, news reports said.